Seed Treatment with Steam Is Effective Against Cereal Diseases

Common bunt (Seraina Klaus, Agroscope) Seed treatments aim to protect germinating crops from diseases. In collaboration with the agricultural cooperative fenaco, Agroscope examined thermal methods using steam and warm water, among others, for the treatment of cereal seed. The results demonstrate the great potential of these methods. In autumn 2017, the Swiss Confederation initiated a national action plan for reducing the risk of plant protection products (see below). In response to this, Agroscope and the agricultural cooperative fenaco, with the additional support of the Hauser Foundation and Sativa Rheinau, launched an 'Alternative Seed Treatments' project. In this project, Agroscope tested, among others, the efficiency of warm water and steam treatments of cereal seed in the laboratory and field. Effective against diseases on the grain surface The focus was on the plant diseases snow mould, common bunt and loose smut.